Judge denies Bulger request on informant's ID

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Posted Apr. 29, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Updated Apr 29, 2013 at 10:33 AM

Posted Apr. 29, 2013 at 10:33 AM

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request by reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger to order prosecutors to reveal the identity of a confidential informant his lawyers believe could damage the credibility of a key witness against him.

Bulger's lawyers had hoped to use the informant to challenge the testimony of Kevin Weeks, a former Bulger associate who is expected to be a star prosecution witness against Bulger at his upcoming trial. Bulger is charged in connection with 19 killings.

Bulger's lawyers hoped the informant would undercut Weeks' previous testimony on money he, Bulger and several other men split from a winning lottery ticket in the 1990s.

On Monday, Judge Denise Casper found there is no "compelling scenario" that the informant's identity is "essential to a fair determination of the case."